Report cites disparity in arrests of minorities

"Dangerous" situation exists, Center for Law & Justice leader warns

Updated 9:03 pm, Thursday, February 16, 2012

Minorities in three Capital Region counties have been arrested, convicted and sent to prison at rates far exceeding their representation of the general population, a new Center for Law & Justice report revealed Thursday.

Blacks and Latinos accounted for roughly half the convictions in Albany and Schenectady counties in 2010 — yet each represented less than 25 percent of the population, according to Alice Green, executive director of the Albany center.

Her report found minorities in Rensselaer County comprised more than a third of all convictions despite representing only 14 percent of that county.

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"Neither race or ethnicity is tied to criminal behavior," Green told reporters in her South Pearl Street headquarters, calling the disparity in convictions and incarceration "dangerous."

Green highlighted the statistics as she made recommendations in the 26-page report, "The Disproportionate Impact of the Criminal Justice System on People of Color in the Capital Region."

Green said drug use is no less rampant among whites than minorities — and that some studies have showed the rate for whites to be higher. But she suggested whites have "enjoyed legalized drug activity" without as much attention from law enforcement. If white communities were being targeted the same as minority communities, "They would definitely get involved in efforts to change the situation," Green said.

When asked about the report, Albany County District Attorney David Soares' office released an email, stating, "I am hopeful that Ms. Green's commendable report is the beginning, rather than the end, of an important dialogue our entire community must have about the state of minority youth in the Capital District."

The report found:

Minorities in 2010 accounted for 24 percent of the population of Albany County, but represented 46 percent of those arrested and 73 percent of those in prison. In the city of Albany the disparity was 46 percent of the population to 71 percent of those arrested.

Minorities that year accounted for 23 percent of Schenectady County's population, but 48 percent of those arrested and 68 percent of those in prison. In the city of Schenectady, minorities were 43 percent of the population, 61 percent arrests.

In Rensselaer County, minorities were 14 percent of the population, but 32 percent of arrests and 54 percent of those in prison. In Troy, minorities were 30 percent of the population, 52 percent of arrests.

In New York state, blacks comprise 16 percent of the general population, but account for 64 percent of would-be voters disenfranchised due to a felony conviction.

Green recommended that police departments in the region add minority officers to better represent the makeup of their communities. The report noted that the Schenectady and Troy departments each have four black officers out of a combined 232 officers. And only 4 of the 31 new officers added in Albany last month were black, bringing their representation of the city's force to 9 percent.